William davison



WILLIAM DAVISON, OF NEW YORK,

COMPOSITION FOR WRITING ON GLASS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 1,588, dated May 8, 1840.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM DAvIsoN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improve- 'ment in the Method of Teaching the Art of Writing in All Its Forms, called the Transparent IVriting-Gruide, which is described as follows, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification.

The nature of this invent-ion consists in preparing the surface of a glass fixed in a frame, under which the copy to be imitated is placed, by rubbing over its surface a certain composition which forms a surface that will receive an ink of a peculiarl kind transferred thereto by a pen of a peculiar construction which prevents its too rapid flow and consequent spreading.

It is well known that to write requires a muscular action of the hand and fingers,

which soon results in a free and expeditiousv command of the pen--in saving most of the books and paper now required in learning to write-and in being easily understood and practised by all persons.

Figure l in the annexed sheet of drawings represents a top view of the frame, glass, and copy. Fig. y2 represents the pen.

Take a frame A, Fig. 1, of convenient size and rabbet it on t-he inside to receive a pane of glass B which is first ground diagonally, so that the writing shall form right angles, or nearly so, to the lines or roughness upon the surface of the glass and made secure in said fram-e with the copy under it by a hinged board, or other suitable means.

Prepare a copy to be imitated on paper of a yellowish hue with inkl made of Cremnitz white, mixed with water, and a small quantity of gum arabic,-andplace it under the glass. Then close the hinged shutter before mentioned and make it fast.

The pen made use of is constructed in the following manner: Inside of a common steel pen C Fig. 2 is inserted a concave piece of steel D having the same curvature of the pen but not extending as far as its point by about a quarter of an inch. This piece of steel is to be cut off square at the end and so arranged in the pen as to retain the ink while it does not interfere with the spring and pro-per shape of the pen; for it will be perceived that when the point of the pen is pressed upon the glass it yields and recedes from the aforesaid piece of steel, which retains its original position and thus communication is cut off and the ink is prevented fro-m flowing' too fast upon the glass.

The surface of the glass must first be prepared for receiving the ink in the following manner: Take a composition made of hard soap and English scouring sand, formed into a cake of convenient size with which rub the surface of the glass well, it will then retain the ink.

The learner writes on the glass o-ver the copy, following the lines thereof generally, or exactly if he thinks proper, in a free and easy manner, avoiding stiff or cramp movements. I-Ie then with a wet or damp cloth, or sponge, or other article, removes this writing-prepares the surface of the glass as before, and repeats the operation of writing until he has learned to imitate the copy with freedom.

What I claim as my invention and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent is The method of preparing the surface of the glass under which the copy to be imitated is placed and on which the writing is performed by rubbing it with a cake composed of hard soap and English scouring sand `as before described.

WILLIAM DAVISON.

Witnesses:

EDMUND MAHER, WM. P. ELLIOTT. 

